SA Military Skills Development System (MSDS) Intake and Initial Training in 2008

SA Army January 2008 intake reporting units and strengths are as follows:

• 3 SA Infantry Battalion (Kimberley): 706 recruits
• SA Army Infantry School (Oudtshoorn): 166 recruits
• 6 SA Infantry Battalion (Grahamstown): 181 recruits
• 8 SA Infantry Battalion (Upington): 180 recruits
• 4 Artillery Regiment (Potchefstroom): 145 recruits
• 10 Anti Air Regiment (Kimberley): 89 recruits
• 2 Field Engineer Regiment (Bethlehem): 197 recuits
• 1 Tactical Intelligence Regiment (Potchefstroom): 88 recruits
• 1 Special Services Battalion (Bloemfontein): 143 recruits

Since 2005, the concept for the MSDS intake and flow of training has been established as the basis for future intakes and initial training in the SA Army. The rejuvenation of the SA Army, will therefore be conducted according to the SA Army approved system of the initial training, through a continuous process of training and development of the new members. This starts with Basic Military Training (BMT) corps functional training, individual training and force training. It will eventually culminate at the end of 2008, where the SA Army will be in a position to declare specific MSDS sub-units combat ready for operational deployment in MSDS year 2 (2009)

The MSDS feeding to operational units in the SA Army will be done in sub-units and sub-unit context, with additional feeding of junior officers and NCOs to other Reserve Force units.

In view of preparing the SA Army for future increased MSDS intakes, as foreseen in the SA Army Vision 2020 plan, the MSDS January 2008 intake will be handled at centralised and decentralised units.

The MSDS flow of training is to be an important component in the foundation of SA Army training around which a number of formal and force training activities for the rest of the SA Army are scheduled.